THIS is a short presentation as well as our invitation to local governments to apply.
Recently, the City of Bogotá (Colombia, Latin America) hosted a conference to present the first edition of the UCLG City of Bogotá Peace Prize. The UCLG City of Bogotá Peace Prize is a triennial award for (a coalition of) local governments that have implemented initiatives in conflict prevention, conflict resolution or peace building, that are proven to have had a significant positive impact.
Objective
The prize aims to contribute to full acknowledgement of the important but often overlooked role of local governments as peace building actors, thus creating a more effective approach to conflict resolution.
In situations of conflict, local governments have an important role to play: they have to ensure that service delivery towards citizens is in place despite the difficult context, and they need to promote and facilitate peace as an alternative to violent conflicts.
Opportunity and prize
The Prize, will be awarded during the world congress of the international organization of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), which will take place in Bogotá from 12 to 15 October 2016.
Nominated cases for the Peace Prize will be assessed by a high level expert jury.
The winning local government will be awarded a modest prize package worth €20.000, aimed at strengthening its peace projects and facilitating learning and exchange with other local governments that are facing similar challenges.
Last 19 November 2015, the UCLG City of Bogotá Peace Prize was presented by the organizing partners (the City of Bogotá, VNG International, Province of Barcelona and PAX) to the media, international organizations, embassies and other interested parties.
How to apply
Local governments can from now on apply for the prize through the website: peaceprize.uclg.org
UCLG CITY OF BOGOTÁ
PEACE PRIZE SECRETARIAT
VNG International
P.O. Box 30435
2500 GK The Hague
The Netherlands
Tel.: + 31 70-373 8413
Fax: + 31 70-373 86 60
Email: Peace.Prize@VNG.NL
PeacePrize.UCLG.org
Twitter: @UCLGPeacePrize
Deadline is 31 May 2016.
Historical background
In 2008, the UCLG Committee on City Diplomacy, chaired by the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), organized the First World Conference on City Diplomacy in the Hague. This event recommended to launch a local government peace prize. This prize has taken shape in the UCLG City of Bogotá Peace Prize.
The Prize is supported by the City of Bogotá, the Provincial Council of Barcelona, the Dutch NGO PAX and VNG International, the international cooperation agency of the VNG.
United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) is the world organization of local and regional governments and their associations, representing and defending their interests on the world stage. UCLG’s network of members represents 70% of the world’s total population and is present in all world regions.
The network includes over 240,000 towns, cities, regions and metropolises, and over 175 associations of local and regional governments in 140 countries. Among UCLG’s key areas of political interest are: local democracy, climate change and environmental protection, the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, local finance, urban development and city diplomacy in peace building. [www.uclg.org]
